Stick to low-angle terrain away from overhead hazard. Wind, warm temperatures, and a complex snowpack are causing multiple avalanche problems.
Increasing easterly winds will redistribute loose snow. As winds get stronger, wind slabs may develop lower into slopes than usual.
Surface hoar and facets in the upper snowpack continue to trigger very large avalanches. These layers could be triggered by smaller avalanches, cornice failures, or human activity.
Wet-loose avalanches remain possible. Be especially mindful in steep terrain and when the sun comes out.
A significant avalanche cycle occurred over the weekend, with very large slab avalanches (up to size 4) failing on multiple persistent weak layers. On Sunday, skiers remotely triggered a size 3 persistent slab near Shames (see photo). On Tuesday, solar input and warming triggered numerous avalanches to size 3.
Mild temperatures are rapidly settling the 50 to 100 cm of storm snow from the past week. Wet snow and crusts likely extend up to 2000 m.
Three persistent weak layers are a concern in the snowpack. Surface hoar that formed in mid-March can be found 50 to 100 cm below the snow surface. Below this, another layer of surface hoar that formed in early March can be found at a depth of 100 to 150 cm. Additionally, a layer of facets, surface hoar, and/or a crust from mid-February is buried 100 to 200 cm deep.
Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy with isolated wet flurries, up to 10 cm. 40 to 60 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level dropping below 1500 m.
Thursday
Cloudy with isolated wet flurries, up to 5 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.
Friday
Sunny breaks. 20 to 30 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.
Saturday
Mix of sun and cloud. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
